College and Research Libraries


By E U G E N E H . W I L S O N 

Goals of the A.C.R.L.1 
Dr. Wilson is director of libraries, Uni-

versity of Colorado. 

Tw o OF the recommendations included in the 1946 report of the C o l l e g e and 
University P o s t w a r P l a n n i n g C o m m i t t e e of 
the A m e r i c a n Library Association and the 
Association of C o l l e g e and R e f e r e n c e L i -
braries are of particular concern to us at 
this m o m e n t . 2 

T h e first is: " T h a t the Association of 
C o l l e g e and R e f e r e n c e Libraries periodical-
ly review its adopted principles and policies 
and that at all times it stand ready to re-
vise and alter its p r o g r a m and activities in 
order to meet effectively the problems of 
college librarianship in whatever w a y the 
needs of the times may require." T h e second 
is: " T h a t there be a constant endeavor by 
those concerned with the policies of 
A . C . R . L . to relate college library service 
and standards to the socio-economic trends 
of the time in such a way that the associa-
tion will not merely f o l l o w the trend but 
take its part in determining its nature." 

W e are n o w c o m p l e t i n g our first year as 
an association w i t h Headquarters office and 
the services of a full-time executive secre-
tary. T h e A . L . A . has set f o r itself " F o u r 
Y e a r G o a l s " to be attained in w h o l e or in 
large measure within the next f o u r years as 
a means of achieving the main objective set 
forth in this p r e a m b l e : " W e , the A m e r i c a n 
Library Association, enter our 72nd year of 
service to the advancement of libraries and 

1 P a p e r presented at the meeting of the M i d w i n t e r 
C o n f e r e n c e , A . C . R . L . , Chicago, Jan. 30, 1948. 

2 College and University Libraries and Librarianship. 
C h i c a g o , A m e r i c a n L i b r a r y Association, 1946, p. 1 1 1 -
12. 

librarianship with the firm belief that the 
critical problems of our time demand a re-
direction of the services of every l i b r a r y . " 
T h e s e " F o u r Y e a r G o a l s " a r e : 

1. Programs and types of service which 
will contribute to the awareness and under-
standing of the urgent problems. 

2. Informational and educational materials 
in every library adequate in quantity, suitable 
in quality and variety, and so organized as 
to serve the purpose stated in the preamble. 

3. G o o d library service for every American. 
4. Forward-looking professional librarians, 

in adequate numbers, eager and competent to 
perform the public service suggested above. 

T h e Executive Board of the A . L . A . has 
called upon the divisions to prepare their 
o w n specific f o u r year goals within the gen-
eral f r a m e w o r k of the A . L . A . statement, 
but with such interpretation as may be 
necessary to meet their o w n needs. T h e 
F o u r t h Activities C o m m i t t e e is considering 
fundamental changes in A . L . A . organiza-
tion. T h e combination of these three facts 
makes it particularly appropriate that w e 
review the adopted principles and policies 
of the A . C . R . L . in the first month of the 
year 1948. 

A constitution and by-laws were adopted 
by the A . C . R . L . on M a y 30, 1940, and the 
A . C . R . L . was accepted as a division of the 
A . L . A . by the C o u n c i l on the f o l l o w i n g 
day. T h e program of the association, f o r -
mulated by its C o m m i t t e e on P o l i c y in 
1941, is a comprehensive statement, directed 
in the broadest sense t o w a r d advancing the 
standards of college and reference library 
service, and continuing the professional and 
scholarly g r o w t h of all those engaged in 

100 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES 



the w o r k of our libraries. It proposed ten 
cardinal policies: 

1. Build an effective organization. 
2. M a k e present affiliation with A . L . A . a 

fruitful relationship. 
3. Provide for continuity of leadership. 
4. Cultivate mutual understanding between 

librarians and their colleagues in learned so-
cieties and other professional associations. 

5. Enlist all career members of college and 
research library staffs as members of the as-
sociation. 

6. Plan stimulating meetings. 
7. Encourage research and study by librar-

ians. 
8. Initiate publications. 
9. Sponsor a program of activities in be-

half of college, university, and research li-
braries by: 

a. Furthering the use of educational li-
braries. 

b. Broadening the basis of cooperation 
among libraries. 

c. Aiding the scholar. 
d. Cultivating international understand-

ing. 
10. Support College and Research Li-

braries. 

T h e years 1941-46 w e r e marked by the 
efforts of the association to secure the fi-
nancial support and the single integrative 
Headquarters agency necessary to make the 
program effective. T h e s e efforts were 
brought to a focus in 1946 by the activities 
of the C o m m i t t e e on the Relations of the 
A . C . R . L . to the A . L . A . , w h i c h are re-
corded in its report based upon a question-
naire survey of the membership.3 

A recommendation by the A . L . A . Budget 
C o m m i t t e e providing f o r an allotment to 
A . C . R . L . f o r the office of executive secre-
tary at an annual rate of $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 was ap-
proved. T h e allotment, with no condi-
tions attached, was made to take effect 
Jan. 1, 1947. the m i d w i n t e r meeting 
in D e c e m b e r 1946, the A . C . R . L . C o m -
mittee on Policy submitted a program of 
ten points, f o l l o w i n g closely the 1941 pro-

3 B r o w n , C h a r l e s H . " W h a t D o the M e m b e r s of 
A . C . R . L . W a n t ? " College and Research Libraries 
8: 3-10, 43, J a n u a r y 1947. 

gram, which was re-examined in connection 
with current developments. O n the basis 
of opinions expressed by the A . C . R . L . m e m -
bership, no fundamental changes in the 
original program appeared to be necessary, 
and the 1946 revised program was adopted 
by the association. 

A n executive secretary was selected and 
appointed. H e assumed his duties in A p r i l 
1947, in an office located at A . L . A . H e a d -
quarters. T h e s e duties thus far have c o n -
sisted mainly in collecting, coordinating, 
and supplying information, and assisting in 
getting the president's program, presented 
in J u l y at the San Francisco conference, 
organized and under w a y . 

W i t h this brief historical summary in 
mind, w i l l a review of our adopted prin-
ciples and policies indicate that our present 
program and activities are meeting effec-
tively the problems of college and reference 
librarianship? A r e w e relating our library 
service and standards to the socio-economic 
trends of the t i m e ? H o w does our pro-
gram fit into the " F o u r Y e a r G o a l s " an-
nounced by the A . L . A . ? 

In his statesmanly inaugural address, 
President Carlson set the course w h i c h the 
A . C . R . L . is f o l l o w i n g this year w i t h the 
approval of the board of directors. A f t e r 
discussing the many problems and needs 
w h i c h might be singled out f o r our special 
attention—problems and needs closely re-
lated to the ten cardinal policies of the as-
sociation—he declared: 

Which of these and other problems should 
our association select for special emphasis this 
year? Because our history is what it is; 
because the events of this past year have 
been what they have been; because our long 
quest for a paid secretary at Headquarters 
has finally come to fruition; because we need 
group strengthening, integration, and pur-
pose if we are satisfactorily to meet the sharp 
challenge of the times; I have chosen for 
the year of my presidency to emphasize and 
promote, in every way I know how (and 

APRIL, 1948 101 



w i t h o u t in any sense f o r g e t t i n g the m a n y 

p r o b l e m s d e t a i l e d a b o v e ) , the i n s t r u m e n t s 

t h r o u g h w h i c h w e w o r k : first, o u r s e l v e s , o u r 

p e r s o n n e l in the c o l l e g e and u n i v e r s i t y field, 

p r e s e n t and p r o s p e c t i v e ; and second, the 

s t r e n g t h e n i n g , s h a r p e n i n g , and i m p r o v e m e n t 

of o u r association, the a g e n c y in w h i c h w e 

m e r g e and combine o u r i n t e l l i g e n c e and o u r 

e f f o r t s . 4 

Committees Appointed 

T o implement this program, the board of 
directors approved the appointment by the 
president of four special A . C . R . L . com-
mittees, as f o l l o w s : 

1. A c o m m i t t e e on m e m b e r s h i p in the A s -

sociation of C o l l e g e and R e f e r e n c e L i b r a r i e s . 

2. A c o m m i t t e e on r e c r u i t i n g the type of 

l i b r a r i a n needed in the c o l l e g e , u n i v e r s i t y , and 

r e f e r e n c e fields. 

3. A c o m m i t t e e to consider the e d u c a t i o n a l 

p r e p a r a t i o n and q u a l i f i c a t i o n s needed by c o l -

lege, u n i v e r s i t y , and r e f e r e n c e l i b r a r i a n s ; to 

p r o m o t e d e v e l o p m e n t of these q u a l i f i c a t i o n s 

t h r o u g h i n - s e r v i c e t r a i n i n g ; and to w o r k 

closely w i t h the l i b r a r y schools to assist t h e m 

in t r a n s m i t t i n g to t h e i r s t u d e n t s the needed 

q u a l i f i c a t i o n s . 

4. A c o m m i t t e e to consider the f i n a n c i a l 

needs of o u r association and to s u g g e s t a 

p r o g r a m f o r their r e a l i z a t i o n . 

These committees have been appointed 
and are n o w functioning. T h i s top 
priority which has been placed on member-
ship, recruiting, professional education for 
librarianship, and financial needs, certainly 
is justified when w e consider that what w e 
do about these things will determine to a 
considerable extent h o w strong our associa-
tion will be, and h o w well w e can meet our 
responsibilities and carry out our accepted 
program. 

H o w e v e r , the priority assigned f o r this 
year to these four aspects of the association's 
program means that the majority of the 
cardinal policies of the association and of 
the professional activities which members 

4 Carlson, William H . " P r e p a r a t i o n f o r P r o g r e s s . " 
College and Research Libraries 8: 199, July 1947. 

felt were most needed remain to be tackled 
in the future. Actually, only one of the 
ten A . C . R . L . policies—that of enlisting 
career members of college, university, and 
research library staffs—and only the fourth 
of A . L . A . ' s " F o u r Y e a r G o a l s " are covered 
adequately by our current program. 

T h e first policy of the A . C . R . L . is to 
build an effective organization. In a sense, 
all other policies may be considered means 
to this end. 

T h e whole program of developing 
A . C . R . L . as a professional organization is 
based upon this first objective. Members 
have indicated that they want a combina-
tion of leadership in the president, the 
board of directors, and the executive secre-
tary, with emphasis on w o r k to be done by 
committees. T h e executive secretary is to 
stimulate and coordinate such w o r k . T h e 
office of the executive secretary should be 
the clearing house for college and reference 
libraries. 

A detailed study of the method of opera-
tion of such professional associations or 
learned societies as the American Historical 
Association, M o d e r n Language Association, 
Academy of Political and Social Sciences, 
American Philosophical Society, or the 
American Political Science Association, 
might be suggestive and valuable. It ap-
pears that the membership does not wish to 
carry over f r o m the A . L . A . a traditional 
organization which is to be perpetuated on 
a smaller and limited scale, but that a new 
start toward a professional organization is 
desired. 

W e should keep clearly in mind the six 
criteria of professions offered by Abraham 
F l e x n e r 5 : 

F i r s t , p r o f e s s i o n s i n v o l v e e s s e n t i a l l y i n t e l -

l e c t u a l o p e r a t i o n s a c c o m p a n i e d by l a r g e in-

d i v i d u a l responsibility. T h e y require the a p -

plication of the i n t e l l i g e n c e of a t r a i n e d and 

5 F l e x n e r , A b r a h a m . " I s Social W o r k a Profes-
s i o n ? " Proceedings of the National Conference of 
Charities and Corrections, p. 576-90, 1915. 

102 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES 



informed mind to the mastery of problems 
and the performance of intricate and socially 
important services. 

Second, professions are learned in nature, 
and their members constantly turn to the la-
boratory and seminar for a fresh supply of 
facts and the discovery of new truths. It re-
quires a steady stream of ideas and new 
guiding principles emanating from research 
and experimentation, to keep professions from 
degenerating into mere routine and from 
losing their intellectual and responsible char-
acter. 

Third, they derive their raw materials 
from science and learning, but use it for prac-
tical purposes. 

Fourth, the professions possess a technique 
capable of communication through a highly 
specialized educational discipline. Through 
experience and research a body of funded 
knowledge is acquired upon which the activity 
rests, including specific kinds of skill that 
the practitioner of a profession must master 
through formal education and training. 

Fifth, professional groups tend toward self-
organization. Common interests and problems 
develop a group consciousness which expresses 
itself in an organization of the professional 
group for its mutual improvement and the 
improvements of standards and service to the 
public. 

Sixth, professions are becoming increasingly 
concerned with the achievement of social 
ends. Their fundamental purpose is not per-
sonal profit, but public service. At their 
best they must become increasingly altruistic. 

Certainly the program of the A . C . R . L . 
and the " F o u r Year G o a l s " of the A . L . A . 
meet these professional criteria. W e must 
not, however, let the tendency toward 
self-organization become the dominant 
criterion. 

Priority of Future Policies 

W h a t policies should be given priority in 
the year immediately ahead if w e are to 
build an effective organization? W e have 
received f r o m the membership of A . C . R . L . 
an expression of their opinion on this 
question. 

T h e encouragement of publications 

directly and chiefly concerning the college 
and university libraries, and the stimulation 
of research studies on the functions of col-
lege and university libraries, were voted by 
the membership as being of first and second 
importance in the ten fields of professional 
activity. Experimentation, research, and 
publication cannot be carried on to any 
considerable extent by the executive secre-
tary until the office becomes well-established 
and the staff considerably expanded. H o w -
ever, he should be familiar with the move-
ments n o w taking place in the social 
sciences, sciences, and humanities. H e 
should also be familiar with the particular 
problems and needs in the field of librarian-
ship, and should be in a position to suggest, 
encourage, coordinate, and direct substantial 
studies and projects. T h e possibility of se-
curing grants for fellowships that w o u l d 
permit librarians to take the time necessary 
for study, research, and writing should be 
pursued. 

T h e r e is strong and apparently justified 
feeling that at the outset of our program 
first consideration should be given to the 
needs of the small college, teachers college, 
junior college, agricultural libraries, engi-
neering libraries, and the reference depart-
ments of the smaller public libraries. T h e 
interests of the larger university and refer-
ence libraries are being looked after, to a 
far greater extent, by special organizations 
concerned particularly with research func-
tions and activities. These smaller li-
braries, generally with small staffs, limited 
resources, and greater need for outside help, 
constitute the bulk of potential membership 
in the A . C . R . L . T h e y are concerned pri-
marily with general education and the needs 
of undergraduate students—the large uni-
versity libraries also are faced with the 
problem of providing better service f o r 
their thousands of undergraduate students 
— a n d assistance with this problem, which 

APRIL, 1948 103 



involves staff, books, support, teaching 
methods, and practically every phase of li-
brarianship, probably should be a primary 
objective of the A . C . R . L . program. T h i s 
is the area in which we could make our 
significant contribution to the first, second, 
and third of the " F o u r Year G o a l s . " 

Development of relations with educa-
tional associations in the field of higher 
education, and development of contacts with 
college presidents, library committees, and 
professors attained a strong third place in 
the ten activities of A . C . R . L . as rated by 
the membership. T h e executive secretary 
should maintain close contact with the many 
associations at w o r k on college and univer-
sity problems to assure awareness of the 
place of the library in educational programs. 
Some of these groups which are particularly 
important to the various sections are the 
Association of American Colleges, North 
Central Association of Colleges, N e w Eng-
land Association of Colleges, Southern As-
sociation of Colleges, American Association 
of Junior Colleges, Association of Land 
Grant Colleges and Universities, American 
Association of Universities, American 
Council on Education, American Council 
of Learned Societies, American Association 
of Teachers Colleges, American Society for 
Engineering Education, and the various 
national library associations. 

Must Support Official Organ 

A s the official organ of A . C . R . L . , Col-
lege and Research Libraries is preferred, by 
an overwhelming majority, instead of the 
A. L. A. Bulletin as a part of the member-
ship fee. T h e journal has continued to be 
a medium for expression and communica-
tion of the best thought in the library 
world, and its success has been due primar-
ily to the energy and enthusiasm of a group 
of volunteer workers. It should receive 
more general support in its development 

as a scholarly and professional journal. 
Eventually the executive secretary and the 
Headquarters office may be in a position to 
edit the journal if the present arrangement 
becomes too much of a burden for the vol-
unteer editors. 

T h e ultimate values of significant state, 
regional, and national conferences in in-
creasing membership and encouraging indi-
vidual professional growth have not been 
attained. Numerous comments have been 
recorded that too often state and regional 
associations are maintained for and by the 
public library group, and the minority 
groups of college and special libraries are 
not considered a functioning part of the 
state association. W h i l e the desirability of 
arranging for the executive secretary to 
attend as many state and regional meetings 
as possible was rated tenth on the list of 
activities, it does appear that this activity 
may well be one of the key factors in build-
ing a strong organization, maintaining en-
thusiasm and interest, and increasing the 
membership. 

Use of Sectional Directors 

The divisional organization with sec-
tions within the division has n o w resulted 
in an A . C . R . L . , with seven sections, which 
cannot run of its own accord. T h e govern-
ing body is the board of directors, com-
posed of a president, a vice president 
(president-elect), retiring president, treas-
urer, three directors-at-large, seven direc-
tors f r o m the respective sections, and the 
executive secretary and the chairman of 
each section as ex-officio members. A l l 
elective members serve three years on the 
board, and terms of directors overlap to 
insure a certain continuity of policy. T h e 
size of the board and the infrequency of 
meetings slow down the pace of its work. 
T h e elective members cannot give the time 
needed to carry on the essential routine ad-

104 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES 



ministrative activities, and at the same time 
supply the imagination and initiative called 
for in planning the work of the association. 

A n executive secretary to manage, under 
direction of the president and board of 
directors, the continuing program of activi-
ties of the association, should enable the 
board to concentrate on planning. T h e 
continuity of leadership by the executive 
secretary should stimulate, guide, and inte-
grate, but not substitute for the voluntary 
services of individuals, committees, and sec-
tions. T h e 1941 recommendation that 
more use be made of the sectional directors 
remains valid. 

T h e principle of autonomy in the man-
agement of the affairs of the A . C . R . L . has 
been established and recognized. However, 
the importance of maximum and effective 
coordination with the work of the A . L . A . 
as a whole has not been diminished. T h e r e 
are special interests in college and reference 
libraries, but there are also many common 
problems of librarianship which we should 
face shoulder to shoulder with all other li-
brarians. T h e Public Library Service D e m -
onstration Bill, for example, should have 
our whole-hearted support. In the recent 
statement of preferences by the A . C . R . L . 
membership, significant numbers indicated 
that both the A . C . R . L . and the A . L . A . 

should function in each of the ten described 
areas. 

O u r program for the current year can-
not be separated from the w o r k of the 
A . L . A . Membership in the A . C . R . L . re-
quires membership in A . L . A . Education 
and training for librarianship and recruiting 
are major projects in the A . L . A . program. 
These are problems which have received, 
are receiving, and must continue to receive 
emphasis and attention. T h e problem of 
financial needs we always have with us. 
O u r association and our membership will 
continue to make distinctive contributions 
to the basic and fundamental problems of 
librarianship which are shared by all types 
and kinds of libraries. 

For the years ahead our special problems 
and needs as recognized and stated in the 
cardinal policies of the association must be 
vigorously attacked. These special interests 
and problems developed the group con-
sciousness which expressed itself in the 
organization of the A . C . R . L . for mutual 
improvement and the improvements of 
standards and service to the public. If our 
organization is to justify its existence it 
must meet these needs. If it meets them, 
the problems of membership, recruiting, 
and finances would become of minor 
importance. 

Fellowships at Western Reserve 

W e s t e r n Reserve U n i v e r s i t y School of L i -

brary Science w i l l offer for the academic year 

1948-49 eight half-tuition fellowships. G r a d -

uates of approved colleges w h o have a better 

than usual academic record are encouraged to 

apply. T h e s e w o r k i n g programs should ap-

peal to persons w h o desire to w o r k closely 

w i t h individual instructors in specific subject 

fields. F o r example, several students w i l l be 

assigned to the fields of cataloging and classi-

fication, to reference w o r k , and to school and 

children's library service. Service of the indi-

vidual student w i l l not exceed ten hours of 

w o r k a week for one semester in return f o r 

a half-tuition credit throughout the year. I n -

quiries should be addressed to T h i r z a E . 

G r a n t , dean, School of L i b r a r y Science, W e s t -

ern Reserve U n i v e r s i t y , C l e v e l a n d 6, O h i o . 

APRIL, 1948 105